Paweldotio, Unsplash Cultural similarities, historical connections, and the same spoken language. At first glance, the countries of the Arab world seem to enjoy good circumstances for a regional economic integration similar to the European Union. The countries are young and the borders separating them do not stem primarily from interstate
The Humanitarian Crisis in Tigray, Ethiopia – A Witness Report
Steve Evans, Flickr It has been six months since the Ethiopian government launched a military operation against the regional Tigray People’s Liberation Front, TPLF, on November 4th 2020, after weeks of rising political tensions. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared a state of emergency and all communication to and from the
Eurovision: Politics Seeps In
On 18 May 2019, Duncan Laurence lifted the Eurovision trophy for the Netherlands. His ballad Arcade gave the Dutch their first win in forty-four years. The EBU (European Broadcasting Union) might have been hoping for a quieter contest in Rotterdam – but it looks set to be anything but. The
Rap, threats, and freedom of expression
On the 3rd of March 2021, the Swedish supreme court ruled that the musician and rapper Frej Larsson would not be convicted for threatening a public servant in his song “Då ska hon skjutas” (Eng.: “Then, she will be shot”). The song includes explicitly threatening lyrics about specific police officers,
Hanging in the balance – Afghanistan’s women in fear as the country enters a new political era
ArmyAmber, Pixabay Wandering the streets of Kabul, Afghanistan in the 1960’s, one could have passed by women wearing miniskirts, walking alongside their male friends on their way to their university classes. Much has happened since then. The country has been in a state of conflict for nearly 40 years, and
By UPF Webzine Activism/Articles/Corruption/Democracy/Leaders/Lecture/Migration/Nationalism/Security/UPF The Contradictory Journey of Alexei Navalny: Liberalism, xenophobia and a progressive attitude
Evgeniy Isaev, Flickr To oppose an authoritarian regime is dangerous but to be the de facto leader is a danger on a completely new level. The threat of being silenced, murdered or imprisoned are ever present. Alexei Navalny represents this struggle; as an opposition leader in Russia he is currently
By UPF Webzine Articles/Conflict/Europe/Human Rights/International Relations/Leaders/Middle East/Realities of Human Security/UPF Yemen’s crisis: seven years of bombstorms, seven years of stalemate
Ibrahem Qasim, Wikimedia Commons Ten years ago, an unprecedented wave of social movements, sparked by weariness, hope, and a yearning for liberty and justice, led to the uprooting of several autocratic regimes in the Arab world. The mantra “the people want the fall of the regime” inspired millions of people to
By UPF Webzine Activism/Articles/Asia/Climate Change/Culture/Economy And Trade/Environment/Europe/Lobbying/Progressive Politics/UPF It’s not Smooth Sailing for Japanese Whaling
Global Panorama, Flickr On April 3rd, 2021, four whaling vessels left Ishinomaki and Hachinohe on Japan’s eastern coast. In June, they will be joined by a fifth vessel. These boats are setting out to partake in a highly controversial practice – commercial whaling. This practice has been halted worldwide since
By UPF Webzine Articles/Central America/Climate Change/Corruption/Democracy/Environment/Freedom of Speech/Human Rights/Realities of Human Security/South America/UPF ‘The future we want’ – The Escazú Agreement and environmental democracy in Latin America
More than eight years after the Rio Conference on Sustainable Development, the first legally binding agreement emerging from it will enter into force in April: the Escazú Agreement. It is praised as a unique treaty breathing new life into the fight for environmental democracy and justice in Latin America and
Myanmar’s Strife
John Owens (VOA), Wikimedia Commons Myanmar—or Burma, as it was known—is a country with a troubled history. The latest example of this came to light in February 2021, when a coup d’état took place, enabling a group of military leaders (otherwise known as a ‘junta’) to grip the reins of